Canine interleukin 18 polypeptide

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to canine interleukin 18 and an interleukin 18 production method.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to recombinant vectors, recombinant viruses, transformants, canine interleukin 18, canine interleukin 1β converting enzyme and interleukin 18 production methods, where the objective is to mass produce by genetic manipulation.techniques canine interleukin 18 the protein primary structure of which is derived from canine genetic information and to thus make pharmaceuticals for animal use (antitumour drugs/anti-allergy drugs/antiviral drugs/vaccine adjuvants).

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Interleukin 12 (hereinafter abbreviated to IL12), which shows immune control action, is a cytokine which possesses actions comprising interferon γ inducing activity and physiological activity in regard to, for example, activating natural killer cells and type 1 helper T cells (reference 1) and, in particular, as a result of a powerful activating action in respect of cellular immunity, it is regarded as having very good prospects as an antitumour drug and anti-allergy drug candidate (references 2 and 3). Interleukin 18 (hereinafter abbreviated to IL18) has also been recently cloned as a cytokine showing the same kind of activity as IL12 (reference 4), and it has been reported that due to synergistic action with IL12 the activities thereof are further increased (reference 5).

Following mouse IL18 (reference 4), human IL18 cDNA has also been cloned (reference 6) by genetic manipulation techniques, and mass production using these gene recombination techniques has been investigated. However, IL18 does not have a signal sequence required for secretion from within cells. Hence, in order to be secreted from within cells in the active form, processing of an IL18 precursor protein by means of an interleukin 1β converting enzyme (hereinafter abbreviated to ICE) is necessary and so, when the IL18 gene is introduced on its own into animal cells, it is not expressed as the active form of IL18 (reference 7) and therefore the efficient mass production of recombinant form IL18 using cells has been difficult.

Development as remedies for tumours, allergies and viral diseases, etc, may be expected by means of mass production using IL18 gene recombination techniques.

In pets, particularly dogs, in common with humans, there are known many tumours such as mammary gland tumours, allergic dermatitis, and numerous viral diseases such as parvovirus infection and distemper infection, and the development of remedies for these is desired.

The cloning of canine IL18 has not yet been reported. Hence, if canine IL18 could be cloned, it is possible that it could form a novel canine remedy.

Again, if it were possible to readily mass produce IL18 in cells using gene recombination techniques, then there could be expected to emerge L18 applications as, for example, human and animal antitumour drugs, anti-allergy drugs and antiviral drugs, etc.

Against this background, with the objective of cloning canine IL18 cDNA and large-scale expression of the IL18 gene, and based on an original concept, the present inventors have succeeded in cloning the gene coding for canine IL18 from canine cDNA, and furthermore they have produced a recombinant baculovirus containing DNA coding for an IL18 precursor protein, and it has been discovered that by infecting insect cells or larvae with this, surprisingly, the active form of IL18 is produced without ICE treatment, and it has been further discovered that by producing a gene in which there is added the gene coding for the signal sequence in front of the gene coding for the active form of canine IL18, the level of production of the active form of IL18 is further enhanced. Furthermore, the gene coding for canine ICE has been successfully cloned from canine cDNA and a recombinant baculovirus containing at the same time DNA coding for a canine IL18 precursor protein and DNA coding for canine ICE has been produced, and canine IL18 has been successfully mass produced by infecting insect cells or larvae, and hence a method for producing IL18 simply and on a large scale has been established. The present invention has been perfected based on these discoveries.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Specifically, the present invention relates to canine interleukin 18 having at least one of the abilities selected from an ability to act on canine leukocytes and induce antiviral active factors and factors which enhance class II MHC expression on canine tumour cells; an ability to promote the proliferation of canine lymphocytes; an ability to enhance Fas ligand expression on canine lymphocytes and canine tumour cells; an ability to obstruct and destroy canine tumour cells; an ability to bring about a reduction in size of tumours occurring in the bodies of dogs; and an ability to activate canine leukocytes and suppress canine allergies.

Furthermore, the present invention offers recombinant vectors which bring about the production of IL18, Escherichia coli transformants possessing these recombinant vectors, recombinant baculoviruses which bring about the production of IL18 in insect cells or larvae, IL18 obtained therefrom, and also an IL18 production method. Moreover, the present invention also offers a gene coding for canine IL18, canine ICE and a gene coding for canine ICE. Furthermore, it offers a canine immune disease remedy containing IL18.

OPTIMUM FORM FOR PRACTISING THE INVENTION

A recombinant vector in which there has been inserted DNA coding for canine IL18 of the present invention can be produced, for example, as follows. After extracting poly (A) RNA from canine cells, cDNA synthesis is carried out and, using primers based on the gene sequences coding for mouse or human IL18, polymerase chain reactions (hereinafter abbreviated to PCR) are conducted.

Furthermore, from the synthesized cDNA a phage library is produced and, by carrying out plaque hybridization with the gene fragments obtained by PCR, full length canine IL18 cDNA can be cloned. Full length canine ICE cDNA can be cloned similarly.

As methods for obtaining RNA from canine organs and the like, there are the usual methods such as, for example, those employing polysome isolation, sucrose density gradient centrifugation and electrophoresis. The extraction of the RNA from the aforesaid canine organs and canine cells can be carried out by selection of a suitable method from amongst the guanidine thiocyanate-cesium chloride method where guanidine thiocyanate treatment is carried out followed by CsCl density gradient centrifugation (reference 8), the method of phenol extraction following treatment with a surfactant in the presence of a ribonuclease inhibitor, using a vanadium complex (reference 9), the guanidine thiocyanate-hot phenol method, the guanidine thiocyanate-guanidine hydrochloride method, the guanidine thiocyanate-phenol chloroform method, and the method where treatment with guanidine thiocyanate is carried out followed by treatment with lithium chloride, and RNA precipitation effected.

From canine organs and, for example, mitogen-stimulated canine monocytes and lymphocytes, mRNA is isolated by the usual methods, for example the lithium chloride/urea method, the guanidine isothiocyanate method and the oligo dT cellulose column method, etc, and cDNA is synthesized from the mRNA obtained by the usual methods, for example by the method of Gubler et al. (reference 10) or the method of H. Okayama et al. (reference 11). To synthesize cDNA from the mRNA obtained, basically besides using avian myeloblastosis viral (AMV) or other such reverse transcriptase, there may be combined methods where DNA polymerase or the like is employed using partial primers. The use of commercial synthesis or cloning kits is convenient.

Using this cDNA as a template, PCR is carried out using primers based on mouse or human base sequences and furthermore, after ligating the synthesized cDNA to a γ phage vector, packaging is carried out by mixing in vitro with γ phage coat protein, etc, and the E. coli which constitutes the host is infected with these created phage particles. In such circumstances, γ phage-infected E. coli undergoes lysis and individual clones are recovered as plaques. These plaques are transferred to nitrocellulose or other such filters and, by hybridization using as probes radioactively labelled genes obtained by PCR, the canine IL18 and canine ICE can be cloned.

Procaryotes or eucaryotes can be used as the hosts. As procaryotes, there can be used bacteria, in particular Escherichia coli and bacteria of the genus Bacillus, for example Bacillus subtilis, etc. As eucaryotes, there can be used eucaryotic microorganisms such as yeasts, for example yeasts of the genus Saccharomyces, e.g. Saccharomyces serevisiae or the like, insect cells, for example Spodoptera frugiperda cells, Trichoplusiani cells and Bombyx mori cells, and animal cells, for example human cells, monkey cells, mouse cells and the like. In the present invention, there can furthermore be used the organisms themselves, for example insects such as Bombyx mori, Trichoplusiani and the like.

As expression vectors, there can be used plasmids, phages, phagemids and viruses (baculo (insect), vaccinia (animal cells), etc). Promoters within the expression vectors are selected depending on the host, for example as promoters for bacteria, the lac promoter, trp promoter and the like, can be used and, as promoters for yeasts, for example the adh1 promoter, pak promoter and the like, can be used. Furthermore, as promoters for insects, there are the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter and the p10 promoter, and for animal cells there are the simian virus 40 early or late promoter, and the like, but there is no restriction thereto.

Host transformation by means of the expression vectors can be carried out by conventional procedures well known to those skilled in the art. These methods are described in, for example, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, published by John Wiley & Sons. Culture of the transformants can also be carried out in accordance with conventional procedure.

When IL18 is produced using cells, because the signal sequence is not present in the precursor protein, IL18 precursor protein processing by means of ICE or the like, is necessary. Consequently, by simultaneously bringing about expression in terms of the IL18 precursor protein and ICE, the active form of IL18 can be produced. For example, by using an expression vector simultaneously containing the gene coding for canine IL18 and the gene coding for canine ICE shown in Sequence No: 2, the active form of canine IL18 can be produced in cells.

Furthermore, by adding a gene coding for the signal sequence in front of the gene coding for the active form of IL18, the active form of IL18 can be produced. For example, by using a gene containing the gene coding for the signal sequence as shown in Sequence No: 9, the active form of canine IL18 can be produced in cells.

Canine IL18 can be produced using a Bombyx mori expression system, for example by producing recombinant Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus which infects Bombyx mori. The recombinant Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus can be produced by cotransfecting a Bombyx mori established cell line with a recombinant plasmid produced by ligating DNA coding for the canine IL18 protein in a Bombyx mori cloning vector and Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis viral DNA. Hence, the recombinant virus can be produced by an in vivo method.

Specifically, there can be produced a recombinant plasmid in accordance with normal genetic manipulation where the DNA portion coding for the canine IL18 protein is ligated downstream of the expression control portion of a Bombyx mori cloning vector such as, for example, pBK283. After cotransfecting a Bombyx mori established cell line, for example BM-N strain (reference 12), by methods such as those in the literature with this recombinant plasmid and Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis viral DNA (reference 12), culture is continued and the recombinant virus can be cloned from amongst the non-recombinant (wild type) and recombinant viruses appearing in the culture fluid by the usual methods such as the limiting dilution method or the plaque method. Since the recombinant virus does not have a polyhedrin forming capability, it can be readily distinguished from the wild type virus. The production of canine IL18 is carried out by bringing about the proliferation of the aforementioned recombinant Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus within a Bombyx mori established cell line or within Bombyx mori organisms.

When a Bombyx mori established cell line is used, BM-N cells are infected using culture fluid containing the aforementioned-recombinant virus and cultured by attached culture or suspension culture. For the culture medium used to culture the BM-N cells there can be used, for example, TC-10 medium to which bovine serum has been added (reference 12). Regarding the culture temperature, 25-28° C. is suitable. After culture, the culture fluid is centrifuged and the canine IL18 is recovered from the supernatant.

When Bombyx mori organisms are used, culture fluid containing the aforementioned recombinant virus is injected into Bombyx mori larvae, synthetic feed is given and rearing carried out. After rearing, the body fluid is collected and canine IL18 is recovered from the supernatant thereof.

When determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under non-reducing conditions, the apparent molecular weight of the canine IL18 protein produced is approximately 15-20 kD.

As shown in the following examples, the canine IL18 is characterized by activities such as a capacity for inducing canine IFN γ from canine leukocytes, an expression enhancing capacity in respect of Fas ligand molecules on tumour cells and an antitumour action in respect of canine tumour cells. Canine IFN γ activity is measured on the basis of antiviral activity using the CPE method (reference 14) and expression enhancing activity in respect of class II MHC molecules on canine tumour cells. Regarding the expression enhancing activity in respect of Fas ligand molecules and the expression enhancing activity in respect of class II MHC molecules on tumour cells, fluorescence labelled antibodies to these molecules are reacted with the cells and the intensity of fluorescence is measured by means of a device for measuring fluorescence intensity such as a flow cytometer, and activity can be judged to exist if this increases by 10% or more.

EXAMPLES

Below, the present invention is explained in further detail by providing examples.

Example 1 Canine IL18 Cloning

(1) Preparation of Canine cDNA

Total RNA was prepared using ISOGEN (produced by the Nippon Gene Co.) from canine pancreas, kidney, liver and lymphocytes derived from canine spleen treated for 7 hours with avian Newcastle disease virus. The RNA obtained was dissolved in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.5) containing 1 mM EDTA (hereinafter abbreviated to TE) and, after treatment at 70° C. for 5 minutes, an equal amount of TE containing 1 M LiCl was added. The RNA solution was applied to an oligo dT cellulose column which had been equilibrated with TE containing 0.5 M LiCl and washing with the same buffer solution was carried out. After further washing with TE containing 0.3 M LiCl, the adsorbed poly (A) RNA was eluted with 2 mM EDTA (pH 7.0) containing 0.01% SDS. Using the poly (A) RNA thus obtained, single-stranded cDNA was synthesized. Specifically, 5 μg of poly (A) RNA and 0.5 μg of oligo dT primer (12-18 mer) were introduced into a sterilized 0.5 ml microcentrifuge tube, then made up to 12 μl by adding diethyl pyrocarbonate-treated sterile water and, after incubating at 70° C. for 10 minutes, immersed in ice for 1 minute. To this, 200 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.4), 2 μl of 500 mM KCl solution, 2 μl of 25 mM MgCl₂, 1 μl of 10 mM dNTP and 2 μl of 0.1 M DTT were respectively added and, after incubating at 42° C. for 5 minutes, there was added 1 μl comprising 200 units of SuperScript II RT produced by Gibco BRL. Then, incubation was carried out at 42° C. for a further 50 minutes, and the cDNA synthesis reaction was performed. Incubation was further carried out at 70° C. for 15 minutes, the reaction terminated, and placed on ice for 5 minutes. To this reaction fluid was added 1 μl of E. coli RNaseH (2 units/ml) and incubation carried out at 37° C. for 20 minutes.

(2) Preparation of a Canine cDNA Phage Library

Using 1 μg quantities of the aforementioned poly (A) RNA obtained in (1), by means of a Pharmacia TimeSaver cDNA synthesizing kit and in accordance with the accompanying manual, double-stranded cDNA was synthesized using oligo dT primers and furthermore EcoRI/NotI adapters were ligated. Using the product, by means of an Amersham cDNA rapid cloning module-λgt10 and in accordance with the accompanying manual, recombinant λgt10 vectors were prepared and, furthermore, by means of an Amersham in vitro packaging module and in accordance with the accompanying manual, recombinant phages were prepared.

(3) Canine IL18 cDNA Cloning

On the basis of the mouse IL18 base sequence (reference 4), the two primer types:

5′ aactttggccgacttcactgtacaaccgcagtaatacgga 3′ (SEQ ID NO:9) and

5′ ccttcatacagtgaagattcaaactccatcttgttgtgtc 3′ (SEQ ID NO:10)

were synthesized using a DNA synthesizer. Into a 0.5 ml microcentrifuge tube there was placed 2 μl of the aforementioned cDNA obtained from canine liver in (1) and to this was added 20 pmol of each primer and various reagents so as to give a 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 8.0), 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 25 mM KCl, 100 μg/ml gelatin, 50 μM of each dNTP and 4 units of Taq DNA polymerase, the whole being made up to a volume of 100 μl. Using an MJ Research Programmable Thermal Controller under respective 35 conditions comprising DNA denaturation conditions of 94° C. for 1 minute, primer annealing conditions of 45° C. for 2 minutes and primer extension conditions of 72° C. for 3 minutes, 40 cycles of reaction were effected. The product was subjected to electrophoresis using 1% agarose gel and an approximately 360 bp DNA fragment was prepared in accordance with normal procedure (reference 13).

This DNA fragment was ligated to an Invitrogen T-Vector using a Takara Shuzo Co. DNA Ligation Kit Ver. 2. Then employing this, E. coli was transformed in accordance with conventional procedure and, from the transformants obtained, plasmid DNA was prepared by the usual method. Next, it was confirmed by PCR under the same conditions as aforementioned that the plasmid had a PCR fragment inserted and, using a fluorescent DNA sequencer (DNA Sequencer 373S produced by Perkin Elmer) and in accordance with the accompanying protocol, using a Perkin Elmer Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit the base sequence of the inserted DNA was determined. Next, using a Takara Shuzo Co. Random Primer DNA Labelling Kit, the 360 bp DNA fragment containing this sequence was labelled with ³²P and a probe produced. The aforementioned recombinant phage library prepared from canine liver cDNA obtained in (2) was formed as plaques on E. coli NM514 and transfer effected in accordance with normal procedure to Amersham Hybond-N+. The Hybond-N+ was incubated at 65° C. for 2 hours in 5×SSPE (0.9 M NaCl, 50 mM NaH₂PO₄, 5 mM EDTA, pH 7.4), 5×Denhardt solution (0.1% Ficoll, 0.1% polyvinyl pyrrolidone and 0.1% bovine serum albumin), 0.1% SDS and 100 μg/ml salmon sperm DNA, and then hybridization was carried out with 1×10⁶ cpm/ml of labelled probe prepared as aforementioned in the same solution. After incubation at 65° C. overnight, the Hybond-N+ was washed 3 times for 15 minutes in 0.2×SSC (30 mM NaCl and 3 mM sodium citrate) and 0.1% SDS, exposed for 12 hours to a Fuji Photo Film Co. Fuji Imaging Plate and analyzed using a Fuji Photo Film Co. Bioimaging Analyzer. Plaques having positive signals were subjected to re-screening in accordance with conventional procedure. As a result of screening three times, one recombinant phage with a positive signal was obtained. From this recombinant phage, the phage DNA was extracted in accordance with normal procedure and, after cleavage with restriction enzyme EcoRI, an approximately 1.4 kb DNA fragment obtained by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis was prepared in accordance with normal procedure and then ligated to Takara Shuzo Co. pUC118BAP-treated DNA (EcoRI/BAP) using Takara Shuzo Co. DNA Ligation Kit Ver. 2. Using this, plasmid DNA was prepared in the normal way and, using a fluorescent DNA sequencer (DNA Sequencer 373S produced by Perkin Elmer) and, in accordance with the accompanying protocol, using a Perkin Elmer Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit, the base sequence of the approximately 1.4 kb DNA fragment obtained was determined. Within this, the sequence coding for the canine IL18 precursor is shown in Sequence No: 1 and the total base sequence is shown in Sequence No: 3.

(4) Canine ICE cDNA Cloning

On the basis of the human ICE base sequence (reference 15), the two primer-types:

5′ atggccgacaaggtcctgaaggagaagagaaagctgttt 3′ (SEQ ID. NO: 11) and

5′ atgtcctgggaagaggtagaaacatcttgtcaaagtcac 3′ (SEQ ID NO:12)

were synthesized using a DNA synthesizer. Into a 0.5 ml microcentrifuge tube there was placed 2 μl of the aforementioned cDNA obtained from lymphocytes derived from canine spleen treated with avian Newcastle disease virus in (1) and to this was added 20 pmol of each primer and various reagents so as to give a 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 8.0), 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 25 mM KCl, 100 μg/ml gelatin, 50 μM of each dNTP and 4 units of Taq DNA polymerase, the whole being made up to a volume of 100 μl. Using an MJ Research Programmable Thermal Controller under respective conditions comprising DNA denaturation conditions of 94° C. for 1 minute, primer annealing conditions of 55° C. for 2 minutes and primer extension conditions of 72° C. for 3 minutes, 35 cycles of reaction were effected. The product was subjected to electrophoresis using 1% agarose gel and an approximately 1.2 kb DNA fragment was prepared. In the same way as in (3) above, after determining the base sequence of this DNA fragment a labelled probe was prepared using the 1.2 kb DNA fragment containing this sequence. A recombinant phage library prepared from the aforementioned cDNA obtained from lymphocytes derived from canine spleen treated with avian Newcastle disease virus obtained in (2) was hybridized with the aforementioned labelled probe in the same way as in (3) and screening carried out. DNA was extracted from one recombinant phage having a positive signal obtained as a result and, after cleavage with restriction enzyme NotI, an approximately 1.5 kb DNA fragment obtained by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis was ligated, in accordance with normal procedure, to the STRATEGENE pBluescript II NotI site. Using this, plasmid DNA was prepared and, employing a fluorescent DNA sequencer, the base sequence of the approximately 1.5 kb DNA fragment obtained was determined. Within this, the sequence coding for canine ICE is shown in Sequence No:2 and the total base sequence is shown in Sequence No:4.

Example 2 Canine IL18 Production

(1) Canine IL18 Production by E. coli

Using as a template the DNA coding for the canine IL18 precursor protein obtained in Example 1, and using primers to which restriction enzyme NcoI and BamHI cleavage sites had been added, by means of the PCR method there was prepared a DNA fragment coding for the active form of the canine IL18 protein to which NcoI and BamHI cleavage sites had been added. This DNA fragment was cleaved with restriction enzymes and ligated to restriction enzyme NcoI and BamHI cleavage sites downstream of the promoter of pET8c which is an E. coli expression vector. E. coli HB101 was transformed using this in accordance with normal procedure. Among the colonies growing on an LB plate containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin, 15 were cultured for 8 hours in 3 ml of LB medium containing 100 μg/ml of ampicillin and plasmids were extracted from the microorganisms collected. After purification, there was obtained a plasmid containing the DNA sequence coding for the active form of canine IL18 from which, on cleavage with restriction enzymes NcoI and BamHI, an approximately 580 bp DNA fragment was obtained. This recombinant vector was designated pETCaIG and, using this, in accordance with the specified procedure, E. coli BL21 was transformed. This E. coli was named E. coli (pETCaIG).

A single colony of the E. coli (pETCaIG) obtained was introduced into 5 ml of LB medium containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin. Culture was-carried out at 37° C. until the OD600 reached approximately 0.7 and, after adding isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) at a final concentration of 0.5 mM, culturing was carried out for a further 1.5 hours.

In a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube, there was placed 1.5 ml of culture fluid and, after centrifuging at 12,000 rpm for 5 minutes, the supernatant was discarded, and the residue suspended in 1.5 ml of 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) and the microorganisms were disrupted on ice using a Handy Sonic. Centrifugation was carried out at 20,000 rpm for 30 minutes and a soluble fraction (the supernatant) obtained. Following filtration/sterilization with a 0.22 μm filter, a solution in which canine IL18 had been produced was obtained.

Furthermore, using primers to which the restriction enzyme BamHI cleavage site had been added, by means of the PCR method there was prepared a DNA fragment coding for the active form of the canine IL18 protein to which BamHI cleavage sites had been added and, after restriction enzyme cleavage, ligation was effected to the BamHI cleavage site of pGEX-5X (produced by Pharmacia) which is an E. coli expression vector. By the same procedure as above, after transforming E. coli BL21, a soluble fraction was obtained. This fraction was applied to a glutathione Sepharose column (produced by Pharmacia). The eluted fraction therefrom was subjected to cleavage using Factor Xa produced by Pharmacia and again applied to the same column. A fraction containing the active form of the canine IL18 protein which did not bind to the column was recovered. On the basis of SDS-PAGE analysis, the purity of the active form of the canine IL18 protein thus purified was 90% or higher. Furthermore, on the basis of analysis using a Wako limulus test kit, there could be detected no endotoxin whatsoever in 1 mg of this protein.

(2) Preparation of Recombinant Baculoviruses for Canine IL18 Production

In accordance with normal procedure, the DNA described in Sequence No: 1 which codes for the canine IL18 precursor was ligated to restriction enzyme PstI and EcoRI cleavage sites downstream of the baculovirus transfer vector pVL1392 (produced by Pharmingen) promoter and a recombinant transfer vector was obtained. Furthermore, using a baculovirus transfection kit produced by Pharmingen, and in accordance with the accompanying manual, recombinant baculovirus rAcCaIG-1 was obtained.

Furthermore, in the same way, the DNA described in Sequence No: 9 which contains a signal sequence was ligated to pVL1392 and a recombinant transfer vector was prepared, and recombinant baculovirus rAcCaIG-2 obtained.

Furthermore, similarly, DNA coding for the canine IL18 precursor and DNA coding for the canine ICE precursor were ligated to restriction enzyme XbaI and BamHI cleavage sites downstream of the baculovirus transfer vector pAcAB3 (produced by Pharmingen) promoter, respectively, and recombinant baculovirus rpAcCaIGICE was obtained.

(3) Canine IL18 Production by Insect Cells

Sf21 cells (derived from Spondoptera frugeruda, produced by Pharmingen) which had been subjected to attached culture until confluent in a 75 cm² flask using baculovirus Protein Free Insect Medium produced by Pharmingen were infected with the aforementioned rAcCaIG-1, rAcCaIG-2 and rpAcCaIGICE obtained in (2) respectively and, after culturing for 4 days, culture supernatants in which canine IL18 had been produced were obtained.

(4) Preparation of a Recombinant Baculovirus for Canine IL18 Production using Bombyx mori

In accordance with normal procedure, the DNA coding for the canine IL18 precursor was ligated to restriction enzyme EcoRI cleavage site downstream of the transfer vector pBK283 (produced by Funakoshi) promoter and a recombinant transfer vector obtained. Recombinant viruses were prepared using the method in reference 12. Thus, into 2.5 ml of a solution consisting of 50 mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.1), 0.28 M NaCl, 0.7 mM Na₂HPO₄ and 0.7mM NaH₂PO₄, there was added dropwise 2.5 ml of a DNA mixed solution (containing 0.25 M CaCl₂, 10 μg of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus BmNPV T3 strain (reference 12) DNA and 65 μg of the recombinant transfer vector), and 0.5 ml of the suspension produced was added to the culture medium of approximately 3×10⁵ BmN cells which had been subjected to attached culture in a 25 cm² flask in 5 ml of TC-10 medium to which 10% FBS had been added (reference 12), and the DNA introduced into the Bombyx mori cells. After 20 hours, there was carried out an exchange with fresh medium and, after culturing for a further 7 days, the culture fluid was recovered. This culture fluid was centrifuged and the clarified supernatant was diluted and added to the culture medium of BM-N cells which had been subjected to attached culture. After culturing for 8 days, examination for viral infection was carried out by microscopic observation and the culture medium with which no polyhedra were formed was selected (limiting dilution method).

The limiting dilution method was repeated seven times and recombinant virus rBmCaIG was obtained.

(5) Canine IL18 Production in Bombyx mori Organisms

The recombinant virus viral solution obtained in (3) above was injected at a dose of 50 μl/larva into Bombyx mori larvae at the 2nd day of the 5th instar stage and, after rearing at 25° C. for 4 days on commercial artificial feed (produced by KANEBO Silk Elegance), the abdomens of 10 of the Bombyx mori were cut and the body fluid collected in an ice-cooled Eppendorf tube. After centrifugation, the supernatant was obtained and, following filtration/sterilization using a 0.22 μm filter, there was obtained body fluid in which canine IL18 had been produced.

Example 3 Preparation of Canine IL12

(1) Preparation of Canine IL12 cDNA

Total RNA was prepared using ISOGEN (produced by Nippon 25 Gene Co.) from canine peripheral blood monocytes stimulated for 48 hours with LPS (50 μg/ml). The RNA obtained was dissolved in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.5) containing 1 mM EDTA (this is referred to below as TE) and, after treatment at 70° C. for 5 minutes, an equal amount of TE containing 1 M LiCl was added. The RNA solution was applied to an oligo dT cellulose column which had been equilibrated with TE containing 0.5 M LiCl and then washing with the same buffer solution was carried out. After further washing with TE containing 0.3 M LiCl, the adsorbed poly (A) RNA was eluted with 2 mM EDTA (pH 7.0) containing 0.01% SDS. Using the poly (A) RNA thus obtained, single-stranded cDNA was synthesized. Specifically, 5 μg of poly (A) RNA and 0.5 μg of oligo dT primer (12-18 mer) were introduced into a sterilized 0.5 ml microcentrifuge tube, then made up to 12 μl by adding diethyl pyrocarbonate-treated sterile water and, after incubating at 70° C. for 10 minutes, immersed in ice for 1 minute. To this, 200 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.4), 2 μl of 500 mM KCl solution, 2 μl of 25 mM MgCl₂, 1 μl of 10 mM dNTP and 2 μl of 0.1 M DTT were respectively added. After incubating at 42° C. for 5 minutes, there was added 1 μl comprising 200 units of Superscript II RT produced by Gibco BRL, then incubation carried out at 42° C. for a further 50 minutes, and the cDNA synthesis reaction performed. Incubation was further carried out at 70° C. for 15 minutes, the reaction terminated, and placed on ice for 5 minutes. To this reaction fluid was added 1 μl of E. coli RNaseH (2 units/ml) and incubation carried out at 37° C. for 20 minutes. Using as a template the cDNA obtained, on the basis of the canine IL12 base sequence (reference 16) the genes for the canine IL12 P40 subunit and P35 subunit were obtained by the PCR method and, in accordance with standard procedure, these were respectively ligated to expression vector pCDL-SRα296 (reference 17), and FOCaIL12P40 and FOCaIL12P35 obtained. 5 μg of the FOCaIL12P40 and FOCaIL12P35 were added to 4 ml of ERDF medium (produced by Kyokuto Seiyaku K. K.) containing 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.5), 400 μg/ml of DEAE dextran (produced by Pharmacia) and 100 μM chloroquine (Sigma). Meanwhile, using a 10 cm diameter dish, COS-1 cells (ATCC CRL-1650) which had been allowed to proliferate in 10% fetal bovine serum (Gibco, hereinafter abbreviated to FBS) until becoming 50% confluent were washed once with PBS, after which 4 ml of the DNA mixed solution obtained as described above was added and culture carried out under conditions comprising 5% CO₂ at 37° C. After 4 hours, the cells were washed with PBS and then culture carried out in 20 ml of ERDF medium under conditions comprising 5% CO₂ at 37° C. for 4 days, and a culture supernatant in which CaIL12 had been produced was obtained.

Example 4 Measurement of Canine IL18 Activity

Measurement of the activity of the canine IL18 produced in Example 2 was carried out as follows. Lymphocytes were isolated from canine spleen and suspended at a cell density of 10⁶ cells/ml in ERDF medium (produced by Kyokuto Seiyaku KK) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 2.5 ml from this and 250 U of human IL2 (produced by Genzyme) were added to a 6 cm dish. To this, 2.5 ml of respective culture supernatant obtained in Example 2 (3) was added and culturing carried out for 2 days under conditions comprising 5% CO₂ at 37° C. The antiviral activity of these culture fluids was measured according to the CPE method of reference 14 using vesicular stomatitis virus as the virus and MDCK (ATCC CCL-34) as the sensitive cells. As a result, when infected with recombinant virus rAcCaIG-1, approximately 10⁴ dilution units/ml of antiviral activity was detected in the culture supernatant obtained and, when infected with recombinant viruses rAcCaIG-2 and rpAcCaIGICE, at least 10⁶ dilution units/ml of antiviral activity was detected in the culture supernatants obtained. Furthermore, as a result of similarly measuring the antiviral activity of the E. coli and Bombyx mori body fluid obtained in Example 2 (1) and (5), at least 10³ and 10⁵ dilution units/ml of antiviral activity were detected respectively. Furthermore, using the purified canine IL18 produced by E. coli obtained in Example 2 (1) and the culture supernatant in which canine-IL12 was produced obtained in Example 3, the synergistic action of canine IL18 and canine IL12 in respect of their capacity for inducing this antiviral activity was investigated. A canine lymphocyte culture fluid containing human IL2 was prepared in the same way as described above, and a comparative investigation carried out of the case where there was added thereto 1 μg of purified canine IL18, the case where there was added thereto 2.5 ml of culture supernatant in which canine IL12 had been produced, and the case where there.was added thereto 1 μg of purified canine IL18 and 2.5 ml of culture supernatant in which canine IL12 had been produced. As a result, there were obtained antiviral activities of approximately 10⁵ dilution units/ml with the canine IL18 on its own, approximately 3×10⁴ dilution units/ml with the culture supernatant in which canine IL12 had been produced on its own, and at least 10⁶ dilution units/ml with both added. It was clear, from this, that canine IL18 and canine IL12 have a synergistic action in respect of their capacity to induce antiviral activity.

Furthermore, using cell strain FCBR1 derived from canine mammary gland tumour tissue on which class II MHC had been expressed, the class II MHC expression enhancing activity was measured in the recombinant virus-infected Sf21 cell culture fluids and Bombyx mori body fluid. 10⁵ FCBR1 cells were attached to 6 cm dishes and culture fluids of canine lymphocytes which had been stimulated with the aforementioned culture fluids and Bombyx mori body fluid were added thereto and centrifugation carried out with 1 ube under conditions comprising 5% CO₂ at 37° C. To the cells was added 10 μl of rat anti-canine MHC class II monoclonal antibody (produced by Serotec), further suspension in 50 μl of ERDF medium containing 10% FBS carried out and this left to stand on ice for 1 hour. After washing with PBS, suspension was carried out in 5 μl of FITC-labelled rabbit anti-rat monoclonal antibody (produced by Serotec) and 50 μl of ERDF medium containing 10% FBS, and then this was left to stand on ice for 1 hour. After washing with PBS, analysis was carried out using a Becton Dickinson FACScan. As a result, it was found that the canine IL18 produced by Sf21 cells and Bombyx mori stimulated the canine lymphocytes and brought about, respectively, approximately 15% and 35% increases in levels of class II MHC expression on FCBR1. It was clear, from this, that canine IL18 acts on canine lymphocytes and has activity in inducing canine IFN γ.

Next, using FCBR1 on which the Fas ligand had been expressed, Fas ligand expression enhancing activity was measured in the Sf21 cell culture fluids and Bombyx mori body fluid. Using rabbit anti-human Fas ligand polyclonal antibody (produced by Santa Cruz Biotechnology) and FITC-labelled mouse anti-rabbit monoclonal antibody (produced by Serotec), analysis was carried out in the same way using the FACScan. As a result, the canine IL18 produced by the Sf21 cells and Bombyx mori was found to have brought about, respectively, approximately 40% and 55% increases in levels of Fas ligand expression on FCBR1.

Furthermore, antitumour activity in the Sf21 cell culture fluids and Bombyx mori body fluid was investigated. FCBR1 cells were subjected to the action of canine IL18 produced by the Sf21 cells and Bombyx mori, causing intracellular DNA fragmentation and destroying cells by apoptosis. It was clear that canine IL18 exhibited direct antitumour activity towards canine tumour cells.

An investigation was also conducted into the antitumour activity of canine IL18 in vivo. When FCBR1 cells were transplanted subcutaneously in the backs of 4 week old SCID mice (obtained from Nippon Crea), it was possible to prepare 4 cancer-bearing mice in which tumours had formed. The tumour weights were calculated by means of the following equation.

Tumour weight=long diameter×short diameter²/2

Two months after transplantation, when the tumour size had reached an average of 32 mm×19 mm and the tumour weights had reached 5.8 g, 10 μg of the purified canine IL18 described in Example 2 (1) produced by E. coli was administered twice, at a 2-day interval, into the tail veins of three of the mice. Furthermore, physiological saline was administered to one mouse at the same time as a control. After administration, the tumour weight of the control mouse increased further and, on the 10th day after administration, it had increased by 1.3-fold. On the other hand, the tumour weights of the mice to which canine IL18 had been administered decreased after administration and, in terms of the relative tumour weight with the control taken as 1, decreased to 0.05-0.1. This tumour regressing effect of canine IL18 was not inhibited by the simultaneous administration of anti-mouse interferon γ antibodies and anti-asialo GM1 antibodies. It was clear that canine IL18 also showed antitumour activity towards canine tumour cells in vivo.

Industrial Application Potential

In accordance with the present invention, IL18 can be readily mass produced. Furthermore, there can be provided canine IL18 which is effective in the treatment of canine disease.

Reference Literature

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2. Shoenhaut et al. J. Immunol. 148, 3433-3440 (1992)

3. Nastala et al. : J. Immunol. 153, 1697-1706 (1994)

4. Okamura et al. : Nature 378, 88-91 (1995)

5. Micallef et al. : Eur. J. Immunol. 26, 1647-151 (sic) (1996)

6. Ushio et al. J. Immunol. 156, 4274-4279 (1996)

7. Gu et al. : Science 275, 206-209 (1997)

8. Chirgwin et al. Biochemistry 18, 5294 (1979)

9. Berger et al. : Biochemistry 18, 5143 (1979)

10. Gubler et al. : Gene 25, 236-269 (1983)

11. Okayama et al. Mol. Cell. Biol. 2, 161 (1982) & 3, 280 (1983)

12. Horiuchi et al. : Agric. Biol. Chem. 51, 1573-1580 (1987)

13. Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, New York, 1982

14. Nihon Seikagakkai, Ed.: Zoku Seikagaku Jikken Koza, Vol.5, (1986), p250-256, Pub. by Tokyo Kagaku Dojin

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17. Okayama et al. : Mol. Cell. Biol. 2, 161 (1982) & 3, 280 (1983)

14 1 582 DNA Caninus sp. CDS (1)..(579) 1 atg gct act aac cta ata gaa gac aat tgc atc aat ctt gtg aaa atg 48 Met Ala Thr Asn Leu Ile Glu Asp Asn Cys Ile Asn Leu Val Lys Met 1 5 10 15 aaa ttt gtt aac aat aca ctg tac ttt aaa gcg gaa agt gat gaa ggc 96 Lys Phe Val Asn Asn Thr Leu Tyr Phe Lys Ala Glu Ser Asp Glu Gly 20 25 30 ctg gaa tca gat tac ttt ggc aag ctt gaa cct aaa ctc tca atc ata 144 Leu Glu Ser Asp Tyr Phe Gly Lys Leu Glu Pro Lys Leu Ser Ile Ile 35 40 45 cga aat ttg aac gac caa gtc ctc ttc gtt aac gag gga aat caa cct 192 Arg Asn Leu Asn Asp Gln Val Leu Phe Val Asn Glu Gly Asn Gln Pro 50 55 60 gta ttt gag gat atg ccc gat tct gac tgt aca gat aat gca ccc cat 240 Val Phe Glu Asp Met Pro Asp Ser Asp Cys Thr Asp Asn Ala Pro His 65 70 75 80 acc ata ttt atc atc tat atg tat aaa gat agc ctc act aga ggt ctg 288 Thr Ile Phe Ile Ile Tyr Met Tyr Lys Asp Ser Leu Thr Arg Gly Leu 85 90 95 gca gta act atc tct gtg aag tat aag aca atg tct act ctc tcc tgt 336 Ala Val Thr Ile Ser Val Lys Tyr Lys Thr Met Ser Thr Leu Ser Cys 100 105 110 aag aac aaa act att tcc ttt cag aaa atg agt cct ccg gat agt atc 384 Lys Asn Lys Thr Ile Ser Phe Gln Lys Met Ser Pro Pro Asp Ser Ile 115 120 125 aat gat gaa gga aat gac atc ata ttc ttt cag aga agt gtt cca ggc 432 Asn Asp Glu Gly Asn Asp Ile Ile Phe Phe Gln Arg Ser Val Pro Gly 130 135 140 cat gat gat aag ata caa ttt gag tct tca ttg tac aaa gga cac ttt 480 His Asp Asp Lys Ile Gln Phe Glu Ser Ser Leu Tyr Lys Gly His Phe 145 150 155 160 cta gct tgt aaa aaa gag aac gat ctt ttc aaa ctc att ttg aaa gac 528 Leu Ala Cys Lys Lys Glu Asn Asp Leu Phe Lys Leu Ile Leu Lys Asp 165 170 175 aag gat gaa aat ggg gat aaa tcc ata atg ttc act gtt caa aac aag 576 Lys Asp Glu Asn Gly Asp Lys Ser Ile Met Phe Thr Val Gln Asn Lys 180 185 190 agc tag 582 Ser 2 193 PRT Caninus sp. 2 Met Ala Thr Asn Leu Ile Glu Asp Asn Cys Ile Asn Leu Val Lys Met 1 5 10 15 Lys Phe Val Asn Asn Thr Leu Tyr Phe Lys Ala Glu Ser Asp Glu Gly 20 25 30 Leu Glu Ser Asp Tyr Phe Gly Lys Leu Glu Pro Lys Leu Ser Ile Ile 35 40 45 Arg Asn Leu Asn Asp Gln Val Leu Phe Val Asn Glu Gly Asn Gln Pro 50 55 60 Val Phe Glu Asp Met Pro Asp Ser Asp Cys Thr Asp Asn Ala Pro His 65 70 75 80 Thr Ile Phe Ile Ile Tyr Met Tyr Lys Asp Ser Leu Thr Arg Gly Leu 85 90 95 Ala Val Thr Ile Ser Val Lys Tyr Lys Thr Met Ser Thr Leu Ser Cys 100 105 110 Lys Asn Lys Thr Ile Ser Phe Gln Lys Met Ser Pro Pro Asp Ser Ile 115 120 125 Asn Asp Glu Gly Asn Asp Ile Ile Phe Phe Gln Arg Ser Val Pro Gly 130 135 140 His Asp Asp Lys Ile Gln Phe Glu Ser Ser Leu Tyr Lys Gly His Phe 145 150 155 160 Leu Ala Cys Lys Lys Glu Asn Asp Leu Phe Lys Leu Ile Leu Lys Asp 165 170 175 Lys Asp Glu Asn Gly Asp Lys Ser Ile Met Phe Thr Val Gln Asn Lys 180 185 190 Ser 3 1215 DNA Caninus sp. CDS (1)..(1212) 3 atg gcc gac aag gtc ctg aag gac aag aga agg ctg ttt gtc cgg tca 48 Met Ala Asp Lys Val Leu Lys Asp Lys Arg Arg Leu Phe Val Arg Ser 1 5 10 15 gta gac atg ggg acc atc aat ggt ttg ctg gat gaa ctc ttt gag aaa 96 Val Asp Met Gly Thr Ile Asn Gly Leu Leu Asp Glu Leu Phe Glu Lys 20 25 30 aga gtg ctg aac cac gag gag atg gag cga gtg cgg tgt gca cac tct 144 Arg Val Leu Asn His Glu Glu Met Glu Arg Val Arg Cys Ala His Ser 35 40 45 aca gtt atg gat cag gcc cga gtt ctg att gac tcc gtc ctt cgg aaa 192 Thr Val Met Asp Gln Ala Arg Val Leu Ile Asp Ser Val Leu Arg Lys 50 55 60 ggg cca aat gca tgc cag att ttt att tct aat att tgc aat gag gac 240 Gly Pro Asn Ala Cys Gln Ile Phe Ile Ser Asn Ile Cys Asn Glu Asp 65 70 75 80 att cac ctg gca cag acg ctg ggg ctc tcc tca ggt tca cca tct gga 288 Ile His Leu Ala Gln Thr Leu Gly Leu Ser Ser Gly Ser Pro Ser Gly 85 90 95 aat gat cat acc aaa cta gac tct caa gta gaa gtt cct tct tta cca 336 Asn Asp His Thr Lys Leu Asp Ser Gln Val Glu Val Pro Ser Leu Pro 100 105 110 gcc ttc gtg gaa aac atg cct ggg cca acc att cct gac tca gaa gaa 384 Ala Phe Val Glu Asn Met Pro Gly Pro Thr Ile Pro Asp Ser Glu Glu 115 120 125 tct aca gat act ctc aag ctt tgt cct cct gaa aca ttt gtg aaa atg 432 Ser Thr Asp Thr Leu Lys Leu Cys Pro Pro Glu Thr Phe Val Lys Met 130 135 140 tat aaa gag aag gct gaa gag atc tac cca ata aag gag aga aag gat 480 Tyr Lys Glu Lys Ala Glu Glu Ile Tyr Pro Ile Lys Glu Arg Lys Asp 145 150 155 160 cgt act cgt ctg gct ctc atc ata tgc aat ata gag ttt gat cat ctt 528 Arg Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Ile Ile Cys Asn Ile Glu Phe Asp His Leu 165 170 175 tct acc agg gat gga gct gaa ctt gac att gca gga atg gag agt ctg 576 Ser Thr Arg Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Asp Ile Ala Gly Met Glu Ser Leu 180 185 190 ctg gaa ggc ctg ggc tac agt gta gtt gtg aaa cgg aaa ctc act gct 624 Leu Glu Gly Leu Gly Tyr Ser Val Val Val Lys Arg Lys Leu Thr Ala 195 200 205 aag ggt atg gaa tca gtg tta cgg gaa ttt gcc gcc cgc cca gag cat 672 Lys Gly Met Glu Ser Val Leu Arg Glu Phe Ala Ala Arg Pro Glu His 210 215 220 aag tcc tca gac agc aca ttc ttg gtg tta atg tct cac ggc atc ctg 720 Lys Ser Ser Asp Ser Thr Phe Leu Val Leu Met Ser His Gly Ile Leu 225 230 235 240 aat gga atc tgt ggg acc gca cac agc gtg gaa gat cca gat gta cta 768 Asn Gly Ile Cys Gly Thr Ala His Ser Val Glu Asp Pro Asp Val Leu 245 250 255 gct tat gac acc atc ttc cag att ttc aac aac cgt cac tgc ctc aac 816 Ala Tyr Asp Thr Ile Phe Gln Ile Phe Asn Asn Arg His Cys Leu Asn 260 265 270 ctc aag gac aaa ccg aag gtc atc atc atc cag gcc tgc aga ggt gaa 864 Leu Lys Asp Lys Pro Lys Val Ile Ile Ile Gln Ala Cys Arg Gly Glu 275 280 285 aat cct ggg gaa ctg tgg gtc agc gac tct cca aaa gcc tcg aca gac 912 Asn Pro Gly Glu Leu Trp Val Ser Asp Ser Pro Lys Ala Ser Thr Asp 290 295 300 agc tgg aca cat caa cct ctg atg ctc aag agc gat gcc att cac aag 960 Ser Trp Thr His Gln Pro Leu Met Leu Lys Ser Asp Ala Ile His Lys 305 310 315 320 gtc cac gtg gag aag gac ttc att gct ttc tgc tcc tca acc cca cat 1008 Val His Val Glu Lys Asp Phe Ile Ala Phe Cys Ser Ser Thr Pro His 325 330 335 aat gtg tcc tgg aga cat atc acg aag gga tct ctt ttc att gca caa 1056 Asn Val Ser Trp Arg His Ile Thr Lys Gly Ser Leu Phe Ile Ala Gln 340 345 350 ctc atc aca tgc ttc caa aaa tat tcc tgg tgc tgt cac cta gaa gga 1104 Leu Ile Thr Cys Phe Gln Lys Tyr Ser Trp Cys Cys His Leu Glu Gly 355 360 365 gta ttc cgg aag gta caa caa tca ttt gaa aaa cca gat gtg aaa gcc 1152 Val Phe Arg Lys Val Gln Gln Ser Phe Glu Lys Pro Asp Val Lys Ala 370 375 380 cag atg ccg acc att gaa cga gta tcc atg aca aga tat ttc tat ctc 1200 Gln Met Pro Thr Ile Glu Arg Val Ser Met Thr Arg Tyr Phe Tyr Leu 385 390 395 400 ttc cct ggc aat tga 1215 Phe Pro Gly Asn 4 404 PRT Caninus sp. 4 Met Ala Asp Lys Val Leu Lys Asp Lys Arg Arg Leu Phe Val Arg Ser 1 5 10 15 Val Asp Met Gly Thr Ile Asn Gly Leu Leu Asp Glu Leu Phe Glu Lys 20 25 30 Arg Val Leu Asn His Glu Glu Met Glu Arg Val Arg Cys Ala His Ser 35 40 45 Thr Val Met Asp Gln Ala Arg Val Leu Ile Asp Ser Val Leu Arg Lys 50 55 60 Gly Pro Asn Ala Cys Gln Ile Phe Ile Ser Asn Ile Cys Asn Glu Asp 65 70 75 80 Ile His Leu Ala Gln Thr Leu Gly Leu Ser Ser Gly Ser Pro Ser Gly 85 90 95 Asn Asp His Thr Lys Leu Asp Ser Gln Val Glu Val Pro Ser Leu Pro 100 105 110 Ala Phe Val Glu Asn Met Pro Gly Pro Thr Ile Pro Asp Ser Glu Glu 115 120 125 Ser Thr Asp Thr Leu Lys Leu Cys Pro Pro Glu Thr Phe Val Lys Met 130 135 140 Tyr Lys Glu Lys Ala Glu Glu Ile Tyr Pro Ile Lys Glu Arg Lys Asp 145 150 155 160 Arg Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Ile Ile Cys Asn Ile Glu Phe Asp His Leu 165 170 175 Ser Thr Arg Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Asp Ile Ala Gly Met Glu Ser Leu 180 185 190 Leu Glu Gly Leu Gly Tyr Ser Val Val Val Lys Arg Lys Leu Thr Ala 195 200 205 Lys Gly Met Glu Ser Val Leu Arg Glu Phe Ala Ala Arg Pro Glu His 210 215 220 Lys Ser Ser Asp Ser Thr Phe Leu Val Leu Met Ser His Gly Ile Leu 225 230 235 240 Asn Gly Ile Cys Gly Thr Ala His Ser Val Glu Asp Pro Asp Val Leu 245 250 255 Ala Tyr Asp Thr Ile Phe Gln Ile Phe Asn Asn Arg His Cys Leu Asn 260 265 270 Leu Lys Asp Lys Pro Lys Val Ile Ile Ile Gln Ala Cys Arg Gly Glu 275 280 285 Asn Pro Gly Glu Leu Trp Val Ser Asp Ser Pro Lys Ala Ser Thr Asp 290 295 300 Ser Trp Thr His Gln Pro Leu Met Leu Lys Ser Asp Ala Ile His Lys 305 310 315 320 Val His Val Glu Lys Asp Phe Ile Ala Phe Cys Ser Ser Thr Pro His 325 330 335 Asn Val Ser Trp Arg His Ile Thr Lys Gly Ser Leu Phe Ile Ala Gln 340 345 350 Leu Ile Thr Cys Phe Gln Lys Tyr Ser Trp Cys Cys His Leu Glu Gly 355 360 365 Val Phe Arg Lys Val Gln Gln Ser Phe Glu Lys Pro Asp Val Lys Ala 370 375 380 Gln Met Pro Thr Ile Glu Arg Val Ser Met Thr Arg Tyr Phe Tyr Leu 385 390 395 400 Phe Pro Gly Asn 5 1427 DNA Caninus sp. CDS (251)..(829) 5 actctcaatc atacgaaatt tgaacgacca agtcctcttc gttaacgagg gaaatcaacc 60 tgtatttgag gatatgcccg attctgactg tacagataat gcaccccata ccatatttat 120 gatgctttct gcattcctgg ctgcttcagc tgccaccttt tcccatctac tcagcctcag 180 gaaaagaaag agaccttaaa ccttccagat cccttcctct tataggaaac tatcgagcac 240 aggaataaag atg gct act aac cta ata gaa gac aat tgc atc aat ctt 289 Met Ala Thr Asn Leu Ile Glu Asp Asn Cys Ile Asn Leu 1 5 10 gtg aaa atg aaa ttt gtt aac aat aca ctg tac ttt aaa gcg gaa agt 337 Val Lys Met Lys Phe Val Asn Asn Thr Leu Tyr Phe Lys Ala Glu Ser 15 20 25 gat gaa ggc ctg gaa tca gat tac ttt ggc aag ctt gaa cct aaa ctc 385 Asp Glu Gly Leu Glu Ser Asp Tyr Phe Gly Lys Leu Glu Pro Lys Leu 30 35 40 45 tca atc ata cga aat ttg aac gac caa gtc ctc ttc gtt aac gag gga 433 Ser Ile Ile Arg Asn Leu Asn Asp Gln Val Leu Phe Val Asn Glu Gly 50 55 60 aat caa cct gta ttt gag gat atg ccc gat tct gac tgt aca gat aat 481 Asn Gln Pro Val Phe Glu Asp Met Pro Asp Ser Asp Cys Thr Asp Asn 65 70 75 gca ccc cat acc ata ttt atc atc tat atg tat aaa gat agc ctc act 529 Ala Pro His Thr Ile Phe Ile Ile Tyr Met Tyr Lys Asp Ser Leu Thr 80 85 90 aga ggt ctg gca gta act atc tct gtg aag tat aag aca atg tct act 577 Arg Gly Leu Ala Val Thr Ile Ser Val Lys Tyr Lys Thr Met Ser Thr 95 100 105 ctc tcc tgt aag aac aaa act att tcc ttt cag aaa atg agt cct ccg 625 Leu Ser Cys Lys Asn Lys Thr Ile Ser Phe Gln Lys Met Ser Pro Pro 110 115 120 125 gat agt atc aat gat gaa gga aat gac atc ata ttc ttt cag aga agt 673 Asp Ser Ile Asn Asp Glu Gly Asn Asp Ile Ile Phe Phe Gln Arg Ser 130 135 140 gtt cca ggc cat gat gat aag ata caa ttt gag tct tca ttg tac aaa 721 Val Pro Gly His Asp Asp Lys Ile Gln Phe Glu Ser Ser Leu Tyr Lys 145 150 155 gga cac ttt cta gct tgt aaa aaa gag aac gat ctt ttc aaa ctc att 769 Gly His Phe Leu Ala Cys Lys Lys Glu Asn Asp Leu Phe Lys Leu Ile 160 165 170 ttg aaa gac aag gat gaa aat ggg gat aaa tcc ata atg ttc act gtt 817 Leu Lys Asp Lys Asp Glu Asn Gly Asp Lys Ser Ile Met Phe Thr Val 175 180 185 caa aac aag agc tagatatgaa aattgcagtt tgaattttct gagttttcgt 869 Gln Asn Lys Ser 190 ctttcagaaa aggtcataaa gagactttga gcctttaatt gtagtaatga aataaaatga 929 attatagttt caaaatatac cactaagaaa tgaataaggg gcacctgggt ggctccggca 989 gttgagcacc cgactcttaa tttcggctca tgtcatgatc tcacagttgt gggatcaagc 1049 cccacgttgg gctctgcact cagcatggga ggtaacctct ctccctctgc atctgcccct 1109 ccctccactc acacacacag gctctctctc tcttaaaatg aataattaaa atattaaaag 1169 aaaaaataaa tgaataggca ggtatcacaa aattgaaatg agtcctcctt atccaggtga 1229 ataaaatatt tgtttaacat tagaagaatg tatagtttca aaacacattc tacattgtta 1289 attgcaacat agattatatt tgtgaagtgt ttcaatcttt tgggttacta gtcctaatga 1349 caaaagatac tgataactga actttctaat ttttaaaaaa tatcattaaa aacaagattt 1409 tgtaggaaaa aaaaaaaa 1427 6 193 PRT Caninus sp. 6 Met Ala Thr Asn Leu Ile Glu Asp Asn Cys Ile Asn Leu Val Lys Met 1 5 10 15 Lys Phe Val Asn Asn Thr Leu Tyr Phe Lys Ala Glu Ser Asp Glu Gly 20 25 30 Leu Glu Ser Asp Tyr Phe Gly Lys Leu Glu Pro Lys Leu Ser Ile Ile 35 40 45 Arg Asn Leu Asn Asp Gln Val Leu Phe Val Asn Glu Gly Asn Gln Pro 50 55 60 Val Phe Glu Asp Met Pro Asp Ser Asp Cys Thr Asp Asn Ala Pro His 65 70 75 80 Thr Ile Phe Ile Ile Tyr Met Tyr Lys Asp Ser Leu Thr Arg Gly Leu 85 90 95 Ala Val Thr Ile Ser Val Lys Tyr Lys Thr Met Ser Thr Leu Ser Cys 100 105 110 Lys Asn Lys Thr Ile Ser Phe Gln Lys Met Ser Pro Pro Asp Ser Ile 115 120 125 Asn Asp Glu Gly Asn Asp Ile Ile Phe Phe Gln Arg Ser Val Pro Gly 130 135 140 His Asp Asp Lys Ile Gln Phe Glu Ser Ser Leu Tyr Lys Gly His Phe 145 150 155 160 Leu Ala Cys Lys Lys Glu Asn Asp Leu Phe Lys Leu Ile Leu Lys Asp 165 170 175 Lys Asp Glu Asn Gly Asp Lys Ser Ile Met Phe Thr Val Gln Asn Lys 180 185 190 Ser 7 1560 DNA Caninus sp. CDS (202)..(1413) 7 gagaaaagag tgctgaacca cgaggagatg gagcgagtgc ggtgtgcaca ctctacagtt 60 atggatcagg cccgagttct gattgactcc gtccttcgga aagggccaaa tgcatgccag 120 atttttattt ctaatatttg caatgaggac attcacctgg cacagacgct tagcacacat 180 caaggctgac agagacaaat c atg gcc gac aag gtc ctg aag gac aag aga 231 Met Ala Asp Lys Val Leu Lys Asp Lys Arg 1 5 10 agg ctg ttt gtc cgg tca gta gac atg ggg acc atc aat ggt ttg ctg 279 Arg Leu Phe Val Arg Ser Val Asp Met Gly Thr Ile Asn Gly Leu Leu 15 20 25 gat gaa ctc ttt gag aaa aga gtg ctg aac cac gag gag atg gag cga 327 Asp Glu Leu Phe Glu Lys Arg Val Leu Asn His Glu Glu Met Glu Arg 30 35 40 gtg cgg tgt gca cac tct aca gtt atg gat cag gcc cga gtt ctg att 375 Val Arg Cys Ala His Ser Thr Val Met Asp Gln Ala Arg Val Leu Ile 45 50 55 gac tcc gtc ctt cgg aaa ggg cca aat gca tgc cag att ttt att tct 423 Asp Ser Val Leu Arg Lys Gly Pro Asn Ala Cys Gln Ile Phe Ile Ser 60 65 70 aat att tgc aat gag gac att cac ctg gca cag acg ctg ggg ctc tcc 471 Asn Ile Cys Asn Glu Asp Ile His Leu Ala Gln Thr Leu Gly Leu Ser 75 80 85 90 tca ggt tca cca tct gga aat gat cat acc aaa cta gac tct caa gta 519 Ser Gly Ser Pro Ser Gly Asn Asp His Thr Lys Leu Asp Ser Gln Val 95 100 105 gaa gtt cct tct tta cca gcc ttc gtg gaa aac atg cct ggg cca acc 567 Glu Val Pro Ser Leu Pro Ala Phe Val Glu Asn Met Pro Gly Pro Thr 110 115 120 att cct gac tca gaa gaa tct aca gat act ctc aag ctt tgt cct cct 615 Ile Pro Asp Ser Glu Glu Ser Thr Asp Thr Leu Lys Leu Cys Pro Pro 125 130 135 gaa aca ttt gtg aaa atg tat aaa gag aag gct gaa gag atc tac cca 663 Glu Thr Phe Val Lys Met Tyr Lys Glu Lys Ala Glu Glu Ile Tyr Pro 140 145 150 ata aag gag aga aag gat cgt act cgt ctg gct ctc atc ata tgc aat 711 Ile Lys Glu Arg Lys Asp Arg Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Ile Ile Cys Asn 155 160 165 170 ata gag ttt gat cat ctt tct acc agg gat gga gct gaa ctt gac att 759 Ile Glu Phe Asp His Leu Ser Thr Arg Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Asp Ile 175 180 185 gca gga atg gag agt ctg ctg gaa ggc ctg ggc tac agt gta gtt gtg 807 Ala Gly Met Glu Ser Leu Leu Glu Gly Leu Gly Tyr Ser Val Val Val 190 195 200 aaa cgg aaa ctc act gct aag ggt atg gaa tca gtg tta cgg gaa ttt 855 Lys Arg Lys Leu Thr Ala Lys Gly Met Glu Ser Val Leu Arg Glu Phe 205 210 215 gcc gcc cgc cca gag cat aag tcc tca gac agc aca ttc ttg gtg tta 903 Ala Ala Arg Pro Glu His Lys Ser Ser Asp Ser Thr Phe Leu Val Leu 220 225 230 atg tct cac ggc atc ctg aat gga atc tgt ggg acc gca cac agc gtg 951 Met Ser His Gly Ile Leu Asn Gly Ile Cys Gly Thr Ala His Ser Val 235 240 245 250 gaa gat cca gat gta cta gct tat gac acc atc ttc cag att ttc aac 999 Glu Asp Pro Asp Val Leu Ala Tyr Asp Thr Ile Phe Gln Ile Phe Asn 255 260 265 aac cgt cac tgc ctc aac ctc aag gac aaa ccg aag gtc atc atc atc 1047 Asn Arg His Cys Leu Asn Leu Lys Asp Lys Pro Lys Val Ile Ile Ile 270 275 280 cag gcc tgc aga ggt gaa aat cct ggg gaa ctg tgg gtc agc gac tct 1095 Gln Ala Cys Arg Gly Glu Asn Pro Gly Glu Leu Trp Val Ser Asp Ser 285 290 295 cca aaa gcc tcg aca gac agc tgg aca cat caa cct ctg atg ctc aag 1143 Pro Lys Ala Ser Thr Asp Ser Trp Thr His Gln Pro Leu Met Leu Lys 300 305 310 agc gat gcc att cac aag gtc cac gtg gag aag gac ttc att gct ttc 1191 Ser Asp Ala Ile His Lys Val His Val Glu Lys Asp Phe Ile Ala Phe 315 320 325 330 tgc tcc tca acc cca cat aat gtg tcc tgg aga cat atc acg aag gga 1239 Cys Ser Ser Thr Pro His Asn Val Ser Trp Arg His Ile Thr Lys Gly 335 340 345 tct ctt ttc att gca caa ctc atc aca tgc ttc caa aaa tat tcc tgg 1287 Ser Leu Phe Ile Ala Gln Leu Ile Thr Cys Phe Gln Lys Tyr Ser Trp 350 355 360 tgc tgt cac cta gaa gga gta ttc cgg aag gta caa caa tca ttt gaa 1335 Cys Cys His Leu Glu Gly Val Phe Arg Lys Val Gln Gln Ser Phe Glu 365 370 375 aaa cca gat gtg aaa gcc cag atg ccg acc att gaa cga gta tcc atg 1383 Lys Pro Asp Val Lys Ala Gln Met Pro Thr Ile Glu Arg Val Ser Met 380 385 390 aca aga tat ttc tat ctc ttc cct ggc aat tgaaaagaat aagtatcaag 1433 Thr Arg Tyr Phe Tyr Leu Phe Pro Gly Asn 395 400 agctgttagc aggcaatcat gggcagtcca gctcttcttg accaacttca aaaaatacct 1493 ttgctaccat agcacactca tgtaaccttt cgtatttcaa taaaaacaaa agcaaaaaaa 1553 aaaaaaa 1560 8 404 PRT Caninus sp. 8 Met Ala Asp Lys Val Leu Lys Asp Lys Arg Arg Leu Phe Val Arg Ser 1 5 10 15 Val Asp Met Gly Thr Ile Asn Gly Leu Leu Asp Glu Leu Phe Glu Lys 20 25 30 Arg Val Leu Asn His Glu Glu Met Glu Arg Val Arg Cys Ala His Ser 35 40 45 Thr Val Met Asp Gln Ala Arg Val Leu Ile Asp Ser Val Leu Arg Lys 50 55 60 Gly Pro Asn Ala Cys Gln Ile Phe Ile Ser Asn Ile Cys Asn Glu Asp 65 70 75 80 Ile His Leu Ala Gln Thr Leu Gly Leu Ser Ser Gly Ser Pro Ser Gly 85 90 95 Asn Asp His Thr Lys Leu Asp Ser Gln Val Glu Val Pro Ser Leu Pro 100 105 110 Ala Phe Val Glu Asn Met Pro Gly Pro Thr Ile Pro Asp Ser Glu Glu 115 120 125 Ser Thr Asp Thr Leu Lys Leu Cys Pro Pro Glu Thr Phe Val Lys Met 130 135 140 Tyr Lys Glu Lys Ala Glu Glu Ile Tyr Pro Ile Lys Glu Arg Lys Asp 145 150 155 160 Arg Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Ile Ile Cys Asn Ile Glu Phe Asp His Leu 165 170 175 Ser Thr Arg Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Asp Ile Ala Gly Met Glu Ser Leu 180 185 190 Leu Glu Gly Leu Gly Tyr Ser Val Val Val Lys Arg Lys Leu Thr Ala 195 200 205 Lys Gly Met Glu Ser Val Leu Arg Glu Phe Ala Ala Arg Pro Glu His 210 215 220 Lys Ser Ser Asp Ser Thr Phe Leu Val Leu Met Ser His Gly Ile Leu 225 230 235 240 Asn Gly Ile Cys Gly Thr Ala His Ser Val Glu Asp Pro Asp Val Leu 245 250 255 Ala Tyr Asp Thr Ile Phe Gln Ile Phe Asn Asn Arg His Cys Leu Asn 260 265 270 Leu Lys Asp Lys Pro Lys Val Ile Ile Ile Gln Ala Cys Arg Gly Glu 275 280 285 Asn Pro Gly Glu Leu Trp Val Ser Asp Ser Pro Lys Ala Ser Thr Asp 290 295 300 Ser Trp Thr His Gln Pro Leu Met Leu Lys Ser Asp Ala Ile His Lys 305 310 315 320 Val His Val Glu Lys Asp Phe Ile Ala Phe Cys Ser Ser Thr Pro His 325 330 335 Asn Val Ser Trp Arg His Ile Thr Lys Gly Ser Leu Phe Ile Ala Gln 340 345 350 Leu Ile Thr Cys Phe Gln Lys Tyr Ser Trp Cys Cys His Leu Glu Gly 355 360 365 Val Phe Arg Lys Val Gln Gln Ser Phe Glu Lys Pro Asp Val Lys Ala 370 375 380 Gln Met Pro Thr Ile Glu Arg Val Ser Met Thr Arg Tyr Phe Tyr Leu 385 390 395 400 Phe Pro Gly Asn 9 40 DNA Caninus sp. 9 aactttggcc gacttcactg tacaaccgca gtaatacgga 40 10 40 DNA Caninus sp. 10 ccttcataca gtgaagattc aaactccatc ttgttgtgtc 40 11 39 DNA Caninus sp. 11 atggccgaca aggtcctgaa ggagaagaga aagctgttt 39 12 39 DNA Caninus sp. 12 atgtcctggg aagaggtaga aacatcttgt caaagtcac 39 13 540 DNA Caninus sp. CDS (1)..(537) 13 atg cat cct cag cag ttg gtc atc tcc tgg ttt tcc ctc gtt ttg ctg 48 Met His Pro Gln Gln Leu Val Ile Ser Trp Phe Ser Leu Val Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 gcg tct ccc ctc atg gcc tac ttt ggc aag ctt gaa cct aaa ctc tca 96 Ala Ser Pro Leu Met Ala Tyr Phe Gly Lys Leu Glu Pro Lys Leu Ser 20 25 30 atc ata cga aat ttg aac gac caa gtc ctc ttc gtt aac gag gga aat 144 Ile Ile Arg Asn Leu Asn Asp Gln Val Leu Phe Val Asn Glu Gly Asn 35 40 45 caa cct gta ttt gag gat atg ccc gat tct gac tgt aca gat aat gca 192 Gln Pro Val Phe Glu Asp Met Pro Asp Ser Asp Cys Thr Asp Asn Ala 50 55 60 ccc cat acc ata ttt atc atc tat atg tat aaa gat agc ctc act aga 240 Pro His Thr Ile Phe Ile Ile Tyr Met Tyr Lys Asp Ser Leu Thr Arg 65 70 75 80 ggt ctg gca gta act atc tct gtg aag tat aag aca atg tct act ctc 288 Gly Leu Ala Val Thr Ile Ser Val Lys Tyr Lys Thr Met Ser Thr Leu 85 90 95 tcc tgt aag aac aaa act att tcc ttt cag aaa atg agt cct ccg gat 336 Ser Cys Lys Asn Lys Thr Ile Ser Phe Gln Lys Met Ser Pro Pro Asp 100 105 110 agt atc aat gat gaa gga aat gac atc ata ttc ttt cag aga agt gtt 384 Ser Ile Asn Asp Glu Gly Asn Asp Ile Ile Phe Phe Gln Arg Ser Val 115 120 125 cca ggc cat gat gat aag ata caa ttt gag tct tca ttg tac aaa gga 432 Pro Gly His Asp Asp Lys Ile Gln Phe Glu Ser Ser Leu Tyr Lys Gly 130 135 140 cac ttt cta gct tgt aaa aaa gag aac gat ctt ttc aaa ctc att ttg 480 His Phe Leu Ala Cys Lys Lys Glu Asn Asp Leu Phe Lys Leu Ile Leu 145 150 155 160 aaa gac aag gat gaa aat ggg gat aaa tcc ata atg ttc act gtt caa 528 Lys Asp Lys Asp Glu Asn Gly Asp Lys Ser Ile Met Phe Thr Val Gln 165 170 175 aac aag agc tag 540 Asn Lys Ser 14 179 PRT Caninus sp. 14 Met His Pro Gln Gln Leu Val Ile Ser Trp Phe Ser Leu Val Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Ser Pro Leu Met Ala Tyr Phe Gly Lys Leu Glu Pro Lys Leu Ser 20 25 30 Ile Ile Arg Asn Leu Asn Asp Gln Val Leu Phe Val Asn Glu Gly Asn 35 40 45 Gln Pro Val Phe Glu Asp Met Pro Asp Ser Asp Cys Thr Asp Asn Ala 50 55 60 Pro His Thr Ile Phe Ile Ile Tyr Met Tyr Lys Asp Ser Leu Thr Arg 65 70 75 80 Gly Leu Ala Val Thr Ile Ser Val Lys Tyr Lys Thr Met Ser Thr Leu 85 90 95 Ser Cys Lys Asn Lys Thr Ile Ser Phe Gln Lys Met Ser Pro Pro Asp 100 105 110 Ser Ile Asn Asp Glu Gly Asn Asp Ile Ile Phe Phe Gln Arg Ser Val 115 120 125 Pro Gly His Asp Asp Lys Ile Gln Phe Glu Ser Ser Leu Tyr Lys Gly 130 135 140 His Phe Leu Ala Cys Lys Lys Glu Asn Asp Leu Phe Lys Leu Ile Leu 145 150 155 160 Lys Asp Lys Asp Glu Asn Gly Asp Lys Ser Ile Met Phe Thr Val Gln 165 170 175 Asn Lys Ser 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated protein comprising amino acids 37-193 of SEQ ID NO:2.
 2. An isolated protein comprising any one of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:14. 